A system and method for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks. Multi-network devices communicate with each other as peers in an ad hoc network while each accessing a service provider network. The multi-network devices may each receive the same real-time multimedia stream, be it broadcast or unicast, while sharing stream parity information. The peers may take corrective action to maintain uninterrupted playback of the real-time multimedia stream with no or minimal loss in perceived quality. The peers may further cooperate to facilitate bandwidth and power optimization, fast channel switching, and real-time mobile traffic and network analysis, displays and alerts.

BACKGROUND

Internet access has advanced from the early dialup system to takeadvantage of improving wired and wireless technologies. High capacitydata networks are currently offered over cable, fiber connections, andwireless networks. For example, cellular systems operate 3 G and 4 Gnetworks that utilize new and efficient protocols, such as WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless MetropolitanArea Networks (WMAN) among others to provide increasing bandwidth andcoverage.

These improvements in throughput are, however, being matched byincreasing demand for services such as audio and video streaming,Internet protocol (IP) television, and games that use the IP to providesignificant volumes of data at the highest rates possible. The currentstandards for multimedia streaming, such as Microsoft Adaptive/Smoothstreaming and Apple's HTTP Live Streaming, require additional power andbandwidth for each stream.

The challenge for IP service providers is to deliver as many servicesand to support as many customers as possible at a competitive price. Theprice to the subscriber of an IP service is directly related to theinvestment in infrastructure needed to provide a satisfactory andcompetitive service.

Wired network access devices may be configured to access bandwidth thatis provided by the wired service provider and wireless bandwidth that isprovided by a wireless service provider or that is more generallyaccessible and relatively inexpensive or free (a wired device with thiscapability may be referred to herein as a “wired multi-network device”).Wireless devices are increasingly able to access bandwidth that isprovided by the wireless service provider and other wireless bandwidththat is relatively inexpensive or free (a wireless device with thiscapability may be referred to herein as a “wireless multi-networkdevice”).

The most prevalent protocol currently used to provide the non-serviceprovider wireless connectivity is “WiFi.” A multi-network device (wiredor wireless) may communicate over one or more service provider networks(wired or wireless) and over wireless access points that may be locatedin homes, offices or at so-called “hotspots.” When connecting to anaccess point, the multi-network device is in an “infrastructure mode.”

Multi-network devices may also have the ability to communicate directlywith each other or with a group of devices. This mode of communicationis referred to as “ad-hoc” or “peer-to-peer” mode. For example, a groupof WiFi devices may form a “mesh” network or a “peer-to-peer” network.In this mode, there is no master base station or access point.

For wireless multi-network devices, the WiFi capability provides analternative network connection when the device is near a WiFi accesspoint (AP) to off-load the mobile network traffic from the relativelymore expensive wireless service provider network. However, theoff-loading of network traffic from the wireless service provider doeslittle to improve the overall throughput of the service provider networkin the face of demands for large data files.

SUMMARY

Embodiments are directed to using peers to provide additional bandwidthfor the communication of a data.

In an embodiment, multi-network devices communicate with each other aspeers while each accesses a service provider network. The multi-networkdevices each receive the same real-time multimedia stream, be itbroadcast or unicast, while sharing stream parity information. The peersmay take corrective action to maintain uninterrupted playback of thereal-time multimedia stream with no or minimal loss in perceivedquality.

In another embodiment, the peers may cooperate to facilitate bandwidthand power optimization, fast channel switching, and real-time mobiletraffic and network analysis, displays and alerts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device incommunication with a service provider via a service provider network andin communication with other peer devices according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device receivinga data stream in cooperation with other peer devices according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to notify a network server providerof the unavailability of a link according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the use of an ad hoc network toconserve bandwidth and power usage of a service provider networkaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to deliver both standard andhigh-definition video content according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a video stream multiplexingarchitecture to provide fast channel switching for video contentaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to locate a mobile device accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating variables useful in determining thelocation of a device from data received from other devices.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to provide real-time peer assistedmobile traffic analysis and alerts according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a central record keepingauthority for logging exchanges of data among peers according to anembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to provide real-time peer assistedwireless network coverage analysis and alerts according to anembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a component block diagram illustrating a computing devicesuitable for use in the various embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a component block diagram illustrating another computingdevice suitable for use in the various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “service provider network” encompasses bothwired and wireless networks that provide access to the Internet overbroadband connections for a fee. Examples of wired service providernetworks include DOCSIS, ADSL, fiber networks and hybrid-fiber-cablenetworks. Examples of wireless service provider networks include WiMAX,UMTS/HSDPA, CDMA/EV-DO, and EDGE networks.

As used herein, the term “WiFi” encompasses products that belong to aclass of wireless local area network (WLAN) devices based on the IEEE802.11 standards. WiFi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

As used herein, the term “data” encompasses the conveyance ofinformation in electronic signals. By way of illustration and not by wayof limitation, the information may be expressed as text, voice, audio,video, imagery, sensor output, hypertext and combinations of theseforms.

In an embodiment, an ad hoc network of multi-network devices isconfigured to provide improved connectivity to a multi-network deviceaccessing an application server via a service provider network.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device incommunication with a service provider via a service provider network andin communication with other peer devices according to an embodiment.

A multi-network device (MND) 105 has a primary service connection via alink 1 to network service provider 110. The link 1 is established over anetwork operated by or for the network service provider 110. Link 1 maybe a wired or wireless link. The MND 105 is configured to establishad-hoc connection(s) to one or more peer devices, such as peer devicesPD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 via a link 2. The peer devicesPD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 are also MNDs and may alsohave their own connections to each other as represented by ad hocnetwork 120. The MND 105 comprises a MND memory 108. The peer devicePD(1) 130 comprises a PD(1) memory 133. The peer device PD(2) 135comprises a PD(2) memory 138. The peer device PD(n) 140 comprises aPD(n) memory 143.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device receivinga data stream in cooperation with other peer devices according to anembodiment.

In an embodiment, the MND 105 is in communication with the networkservice provider 110 to obtain a data stream 200 over the link 1. Link 1may be wired or wireless. The data stream 200 is also provided to peerdevices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 via the link 3. Thestreamed data 200 is stored in the MND memory 108 of the MND 105, thePD(1) memory 133 of peer device PD(1) 130, the PD(2) memory 138 of peerdevice PD(2) 135 and the PD(n) memory 143 of the peer device PD(n) 140.

In an embodiment, the memories comprise forward error correction andparity information for data stream redundancy and tolerance of errors.In the event of degradation of link 1, the MND 105 is able to fetch datathat is missing from its MND memory 108 due to the degradation of link 1by requesting missing data fragments that may be stored in the PDmemories (1 . . . n) of peer devices PD (1 . . . n) via link 2. In thisway, the MND 105 may recover the data stream with little or minimal lossin perceived quality. Additionally, because the network service provider110 is not required to re-broadcast the data stream 200 for datacorrection for the MND 105 and for other MNDs that may be able toconnect to the ad hoc network 120, power consumption and bandwidthutilization from the network service provider 110 to the MNDs receivingthe data stream 200 is reduced.

In an embodiment, the data stream 200 is a real-time data stream that islatency sensitive in nature. Streamed real-time data may be video,audio, or any multimedia information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to notify a network server providerof the unavailability of a link according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, when the link 1 is unavailable to the MND 105, the MND105 may use a link 2 to any of the peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140, which may in turn connect to the network serviceprovider 110 via a link 3.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the use of an ad hoc network toconserve bandwidth and power usage of a service provider networkaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the MND 105 is in communication with thenetwork service provider 110 to obtain a data stream 200 over the link1. The peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 via thelink 3 may communicate with the network service provider 110 via a link3 (the PDs are also multi-network devices). As illustrated in FIG. 4,MND 105 issues a MND(1) request 1 for a data stream 200. The networkservice provider 110 responds to MND(1) request 1 by providing the datastream as a unicast stream 405. A MND(2) request 2 for the data stream200 is received by the network service provider 110 from MND(2). Thenetwork service provider 110 also responds to MND(2) request 2 byproviding the data stream 200 as a unicast stream 405. A MND(3) request3 and a MND(n) request (n) for the data stream 200 is subsequentlyreceived by the network service provider 110. The network serviceprovider 110 responds to each of these requests by providing the datastream 200 as a unicast stream 405.

In this embodiment, “n” is a threshold number that determines when thenetwork service provider 110 transitions the data stream 200 from theunicast stream 405 to a multicast stream 410 or a broadcast stream 410.When this threshold is reached, MND 105 and the other MNDs receiving thedata stream 200 may form an ad hoc network 120 to provide the redundancydescribed in relationship to FIG. 2. Additionally, the network serviceprovider 110 may provide a single data stream 200 thus saving power andbandwidth.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to receive both standard andhigh-definition video content according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the pixels of a high definition video display areidentified by a row and a column location within an array. The pixels ofthe array may be grouped by blocks. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a blockhas two rows and two columns. The cells within the 2×2 block are labeledA, B, C and D. Pixels that are assigned to cell A are assigned to videostream A, pixels that are assigned to cell B are assigned to videostream B, pixels that are assigned to cell C are assigned to videostream C, and pixels that are assigned to cell D are assigned to videostream D.

The first block thus includes pixels from locations (1,1), (1,2), (2,1)and (2,2). The next block includes pixels from locations (1,3), (1,4),(2,3) and (2,4). The block assignments proceed across the display arrayuntil the last column is reached and then begin again with rows threeand four. This process continues until all of the pixels are assigned toone of streams A, B, C and D.

Any one of the four unique streams that are produced using this patternmay be viewed on a low resolution device (quarter HD screen in thisexample) without a noticeable difference in quality. The streams may bebroadcast simultaneously.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the MND 105 comprises a tuner 510 that istuned to a broadcast channel. The MND 105 receives the broadcast channelover link 3, demodulates it, and receives the video stream A. The peerdevices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 each receive videostreams B, C, and D via the links 3B, 3C and 3D (the tuners of the peerdevices are not illustrated for clarity). Each device may view its ownvideo stream in low resolution. If MND 105 is a high definition displayand is capable of combining video streams A, B, C, and D, MND 105 mayreceive the video streams B, C and D from the peer devices PD(1) 130 andPD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 and generate a high definition video stream.Additionally, the peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140may provide error correction for each of the other video streams with areasonable quality since each stream's pixels will be adjacent to oneanother.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a video stream multiplexingarchitecture to provide fast channel switching for video contentaccording to an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, video stream A from video channels N−1, N, andN+1 are multiplexed into a broadcast channel BC1. Similarly, videostream B from video channels N, N+1, and N+2 are multiplexed into abroadcast channel BC2. In this configuration of video channels andbroadcast channels, the broadcast channels BC1 and BC2 share videochannels N and N+1. Video channel N is unique to BC1 and video channelN+2 is unique to BC2. This overlapping continuum of video channels inadjacent broadcast channels makes it possible for a device with a tunerto tune to a different broadcast channel in response to a user'sselection of a video channel.

To illustrate, referring again to FIG. 5, the tuner 510 of the MND 105is tuned to BC 1. The MND 105 is configured to receive video channel N,video stream A. When the user of the MND 105 switches to video channelN+1, the video channel N+1, stream A can be played with little or nodelay because it is in the same broadcast channel (in this case, BC1) asvideo channel N. In this case, the MND 105 senses that the user isascending through the video streams in BC 1 and, without disrupting theviewing of video channel N+1, instructs the tuner to tune to BC2. BC2also includes the video channel N+1 as well as video channels N and N+2carrying video stream B. In the event the user switches to video channelN+2, the user may be immediately presented video channel N+2, stream B.Additionally, the tuner 510 may be instructed to tune to BC3 (notillustrated) comprising video streams N+1, N+2 and N+3.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the MND 105 receives video stream A over link3. The peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 eachreceive video streams B, C, and D via the links 3B, 3C and 3D. Eachdevice may view its own video stream in low resolution. During thetuning of MND 105 from BC 1 to BC2, any dropped frame can be replaced byany peer PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 that also has videochannel N+1, stream A. At the end of this process, the MND 105 willdisplay channel N+1, stream B. The process may be repeated withdifferent channel and stream combinations.

If the MND 105 is a high definition display and is capable of combiningvideo streams A, B, C, and D, the MND 105 may receive the video streamsB, C and D from the peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n)140 and combine these streams with stream A to generate a highdefinition video stream.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to locate a mobile device accordingto an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the MND 105 cannot communicate with the networkservice provider 110 and is unable to use any onboard GPS systems. Byway of illustration and not by way of limitation, the inability to useonboard GPS systems may arise because the MND 105 is not equipped with aGPS system, the GPS system has not been activated or has failed, orbecause of the MND 105 is not in a location where it may receive GPSsignals. The MND 105 is able to communicate with one or more peerdevices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 via a link 2 to ad hocnetwork 120. The peer device PD(1) 130 may have PD(1) locationinformation 633. The peer device PD(2) 135 may have PD(2) locationinformation 638. The peer device PD(n) 140 may have PD(n) locationinformation 643. These peer devices PD(1 . . . n) may have but do notrequire active connections to the network service provider 110 via alink 3.

The MND 105 may query all reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140 for their location data. In an embodiment, locationinformation may include latitude, longitude, estimated locationaccuracy, and the signal strength of the MND 105 as determined by PD(1)130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140.

Accuracy values may reflect the source of the location data for each ofthe reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140. Byway of illustration, a peer device may obtain its location informationfrom a relatively high-accuracy method such as A-GPS, or it may obtainits location information from a relatively low-accuracy method such asthe Cell ID-based location. For each of the reachable peer devices PD(1)130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140, the MND 105 also captures areceived signal power measurement.

The MND 105 may use the location data and signal strength measurementsobtained from the reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 throughPD(n) 140 and its measurement of the signal power of each of thereachable peers to estimate its location.

By way of illustration and not by way of limitation, a set of ireachable peer devices comprising reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 andPD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 is sampled. In this example, the MND 105 mayreceive each peer device's estimated location coordinates of x_(i),y_(i) and each peer device's probability circle radius representing theaccuracy range of its estimated location A_(i). Furthermore, the MND 105is able to measure the relative signal strength R_(i) of the peer linktransmitted from each reachable peer device PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140. From these data, the location of the MDN 105 atcoordinates x, y having an accuracy of A, where x, y is the weightedmean of the location data acquired from the set of i reachable peerdevices. More particularly,

$\begin{matrix}{\overset{\_}{x} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}{W_{i}x_{i}}}} & \lbrack 1\rbrack \\{\overset{\_}{y} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}{W_{i}y_{i}}}} & \lbrack 2\rbrack\end{matrix}$

with the radius of the probability circle A around x, y of

A=(2−W _(i) _(max) )A _(i)  [3]

where:

$W_{i} = \frac{R_{i}}{A_{i}}$

and is on a normalized scale such that for all W_(i),

$\begin{matrix}{{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}W_{i}} = 1} & \lbrack 4\rbrack\end{matrix}$

and W_(i) _(max) is the maximum member of the set of weighting factorsW_(i) having its specific peer device's probability accuracy circle ofradius A_(i).

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating variables useful in determining thelocation of a device from data received from other devices. Asillustrated in FIG. 7B, a longer “distance” drawn above for Rcorresponds to a lower RSSI measurement, i.e., the weaker the RSSI themore likely it is that the MND is farther away from a particular PD_(i).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to provide real-time peer assistedmobile traffic analysis and alerts according to an embodiment.

The MND 105 is a mobile device in an automobile traveling in a givendirection on a roadway 805. In an embodiment, the MND 105 may furthercomprise traffic pattern data that establish a “norm” for locationsalong roadway 805.

The MND 105 may query all reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140 that are also traveling in the same direction andusing the same route some distance ahead of the MND 105 for theircurrent location and speed data 810 via the link 2.

In an embodiment, the MND 105 may comprise a processor and softwareinstructions that allow the processor to evaluate the location and ratedata 810 received via the link 2 against the “normal” data for a currentlocation along roadway 805. Real-time traffic congestion can be detectedwhen there is a large population of peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140 reporting slow progress within a small area that isinconsistent with the normal traffic pattern for the particular locationon the roadway 805.

In an embodiment, the normal data may be updated with received data toreflect a change in the traffic norm for a location on the roadway 805.

The software instructions may further allow the processor to issue analert to a user of the MND 105 of the impending traffic congestion. Inan embodiment, the software instructions also allow the user of the MND105 to indicate a destination. The software instructions may then allowthe processor to offer a choice of detours that are less congested.

In yet another embodiment, the MND 105 may report its location and speeddata 810 to network service provider 110 as well as the location andspeed data of peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140through link 1 for real-time traffic alerts network wide. In anembodiment, the aggregated traffic conditions for a given area may bedisplayed on a map as a color coded overlay. For example, clear (alphachannel) may be used to indicate little to no network reported data,light green may be used to indicate light traffic, dark green may beused to indicate traffic congestion, and brown may be used to indicateheavy traffic congestion. Icons can be placed on top of an area withconfirmed traffic and hazard conditions. Another icon may indicate thecurrent location of the MND 105 D. Details of the traffic condition andhazards may also be linked to the icons for user interactions.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a central record keepingauthority for logging exchanges of data among peers according to anembodiment.

A multi-network device (MND) 105 has a primary service connection via alink 1 to network service provider 110. The link 1 is established over anetwork operated by or for the network service provider 110. Link 1 maybe a wired or wireless link. The MND 105 is configured to establishad-hoc connection(s) to one or more peer devices, such as peer devicesPD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 via a link 2. The peer devicesPD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 are also MNDs and may alsohave their own connections to each other as represented by ad hocnetwork 120. The MND 105 comprises a MND memory 108. The peer devicePD(1) 130 comprises a PD(1) memory 133. The peer device PD(2) 130comprises a PD(2) memory 138. The peer device PD(n) 140 comprises aPD(n) memory 143.

In an embodiment, MND 105 and peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140 each records in its memory all data it receives fromall other devices. Thus, the MND 105 will record data received from allother devices in the ad hoc network 120 in MND memory 108. The peerdevice PD(1) 130 will record data received from all other devices in thead hoc network 120 in PD(1) memory 133. The peer device PD(2) 130 willrecord data received from all other devices in the ad hoc network 120 inPD(2) memory 138. The peer device PD(n) 140 will record data receivedfrom all other devices in the ad hoc network 120 in PD(n) memory 143.

Each device in ad hoc network 120 forwards all data back to a centralrecord keeping authority 905. When a device receives a confirmation thatits data has been archived, the device may free its memory to receivenew data.

In an embodiment, a device may request retransmission from other devicesfor missing data. Additionally, devices belonging to the ad hoc network120 that do not have a direct connection to the network service provider110 may forward data through other members of the ad hoc network 120until a member node with a connection to network service provider 110 isreached.

In an embodiment, the delivery of data to the central record keepingauthority 905 may be in real-time or it may be scheduled in accordancewith a policy. The policy may, for example, establish a priority amongnodes or it may grant priority to a node requesting it.

The delivery of data to a central location allows all members of a peernetwork to access data provided by other members of the peer network toa central authority even when out of range of those peers. By way ofillustration and not by way of limitation, MND 105 and peer devicesPD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135 through PD(n) 140 may represent a network ofemergency responders. In this example, MND 105 may perform the role offorwarding data to the central record keeping authority (e.g., thenetwork service provider 110) and relaying information to other networkmembers.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a multi-network device utilizingconnectivity with an ad hoc network to provide real-time peer assistedwireless network coverage analysis and alerts according to anembodiment.

The MND 105 may query all reachable peer devices PD(1) 130 and PD(2) 135through PD(n) 140 that are also traveling in the same direction andusing the same route some distance ahead of the MND 105 for theirlocation and network coverage data 1010. The network coverage data may,for example, include RF signal power, signal quality, and bandwidthusage.

In an embodiment, the MND 105 may comprise a processor and softwareinstructions that allow the processor to evaluate the network coveragedata and location data 1010 received from the other members of the adhoc network 140. When the reported network coverage data indicates adrop in wireless coverage quality, the MND 105 may alert the user of theimpending network coverage brownout or outage. Using the locationinformation, the software instructions may also allow the processor tosuggest possible route changes to remain in the coverage area, or, giventhe current speed of travel of the MND 105, how long before coveragewill end and then be restored if the MND 105 continues to travel in thesame route and at the same speed.

In addition, the MND 105 may also report its analysis back to thenetwork service provider 110 through the link 1 as coverage data and asaggregated coverage data thereby providing real-time coverage reportingnetwork wide in case the coverage outage is due to failure in networkequipment. In an embodiment, the aggregated real time coverageinformation for a given area may be displayed on a map as a color codedoverlay. For example, the overlay may be clear to indicate little to nocoverage, light green may be used to indicate coverage and light usage,and dark green may be used to indicate heavy network bandwidth usage.The overlay may display any of the aggregated measurement recorded bythe MND 105. Icons may be placed on top of an area with network coverageissues. Details of the network coverage conditions can be linked to theicons for user interactions. This map overlay may also be used bynetwork work-force management to dispatch repair crews to outagelocations and for network customer service to communicate network statusand conditions to consumers without costly service calls.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe order of steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in anyorder. Further, words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are notintended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used toguide the reader through the description of the methods.

Typical computing devices suitable for use with certain embodiments willhave in common the components illustrated in FIG. 11. For example, theexemplary computing device 1020 may include a processor 1001 coupled toan internal memory 1002, to a display 1003 and to a SIM 1009 or similarremovable memory unit. Additionally, the computing device 1020 may havean antenna 1004 for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation thatis connected to a transceiver 1005 coupled to the processor 1001. Insome implementations, the transceiver 1005 and portions of the processor1001 and memory 1002 may be used for multi-network communications.Computing devices typically also include a key pad 1006 or miniaturekeyboard and menu selection buttons or rocker switches 1007 forreceiving user inputs. Computing device 1020 may also include a GPSnavigation device 1000 coupled to the processor and used for determiningthe location coordinates of the computing device 1020.

The processor 1001 may be any programmable microprocessor, microcomputeror multiple processor chip or chips that can be configured by softwareinstructions (applications) to perform a variety of functions, includingthe functions of the various embodiments described herein. In somecomputing devices, multiple processors 1001 may be provided, such as oneprocessor dedicated to wireless communication functions and oneprocessor dedicated to running other applications. Typically, softwareapplications may be stored in the internal memory 1002 before they areaccessed and loaded into the processor 1001. In some computing devices,the processor 1001 may include internal memory sufficient to store theapplication software instructions. The internal memory of the processormay include a secure memory (not illustrated) which is not directlyaccessible by users or applications and that is capable of recordingMDINs and SIM IDs as described in the various embodiments. As part ofthe processor, such a secure memory may not be replaced or accessedwithout damaging or replacing the processor. In some computing devices,additional memory chips (e.g., a Secure Data (SD) card) may be pluggedinto the device 1020 and coupled to the processor 1001. In manycomputing devices, the internal memory 1002 may be a volatile ornonvolatile memory, such as flash memory, or a mixture of both. For thepurposes of this description, a general reference to memory refers toall memory accessible by the processor 1001, including internal memory1002, removable memory plugged into the computing device, and memorywithin the processor 1001 itself, including the secure memory.

The computing device 1020 may further comprise a video receiver unit1021 to provide video demodulation and tuning capabilities. The videoreceiver unit 1021 may be implemented in hardware, software or acombination of hardware and software.

A number of the embodiments described above may also be implemented withany of a variety of computing devices, such as the computing device 1100illustrated in FIG. 12. Such a computing device 1100 typically includesa processor 1101 coupled to volatile memory 1102 and a large capacitynonvolatile memory, such as a disk drive 1103. The computing device 1100may also include a floppy disc drive and/or a compact disc (CD) drive1106 coupled to the processor 1101. The computing device 1100 may alsoinclude network access ports 1104 coupled to the processor 1101 forestablishing data connections with network circuits 1105 over a varietyof wired and wireless networks using a variety of protocols. Thecomputing device 1100 may further comprise a video receiver unit 1121 toprovide video demodulation and tuning capabilities. The video receiverunit 1121 may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination ofhardware and software.

While the computing device 1100 is illustrated as using a desktop formfactor, the illustrated form is not meant to be limiting. For example,some or all of the components of computing device 1100 may beimplemented as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mini-computer,or a personal data assistant.

The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams areprovided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to requireor imply that the blocks of the various embodiments must be performed inthe order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the artthe order of blocks in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in anyorder. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intendedto limit the order of the blocks; these words are simply used to guidethe reader through the description of the methods. Further, anyreference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using thearticles “a,” “an,” or “the,” is not to be construed as limiting theelement to the singular.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentinvention.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logicalblocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspectsdisclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purposeprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) orother programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor maybe a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be anyconventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Aprocessor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices,e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some blocks ormethods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a givenfunction.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The blocks of a method or algorithm disclosedherein may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, whichmay reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable mediaincludes both computer storage media and communication media includingany medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from oneplace to another. A storage media may be any available media that may beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of instructions or data structures and that maybe accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed acomputer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmittedfrom a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable,fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), orwireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then thecoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wirelesstechnologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in thedefinition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include compactdisc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD),floppy disk, and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/orinstructions on a machine readable medium and/or computer-readablemedium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended tobe limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles andnovel features disclosed herein.

1. A system for receiving data over multiple links comprising: a firstmulti-network device (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processorand a first memory and wherein the MND is configured to establish aconnection with a network service provider via a first link; an ad-hocnetwork of other MNDs, wherein each of the other MNDs comprises a memoryand is configured to establish an ad-hoc connection to the MND via asecond link and to establish a connection with the network serviceprovider via a third link, wherein the MND receives data from thenetwork service provider via the first link and stores the data in thefirst memory, wherein each of the other MNDs receives the data from thenetwork service provider via the third link and stores the data in itsmemory, and wherein the processor comprises instructions that cause theMND to perform operations comprising: monitoring the data received viathe first link; determining whether the data are complete; and acquiringthe data from the memory of one of the other MNDs via the second linkwhen the data are not complete.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theMND is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a portablecomputer, a desktop computer, and a gateway.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the network service provider is selected from the groupconsisting of a DOCSIS service provider, an ADSL service provider, afiber service provider, a WiMAX service provider, a UMTS/HSDPA serviceprovider, a CDMA/EV-DO service provider, and an EDGE service provider.4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first link, the second link andthe third link are selected from the group consisting of a wired linkand a wireless link.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data arevideo data.
 6. A method for receiving data over multiple linkscomprising: establishing a first link between a first multi-networkdevice (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processor and a firstmemory; receiving at the first MND data from the network serviceprovider via the first link; storing the data in the first memory;establishing a connection with the network service provider and each ofthe other MNDs via a second link, wherein each of the other MNDscomprises a processor and a memory; receiving the data from the networkservice provider at each of the other MNDs via the second link; storingthe data in the memories of each of the other MNDs; establishing anad-hoc network of the other MNDs; establishing an ad hoc connectionbetween each of the other MNDs and the first MND via a third link;monitoring the data received via the first link; determining whether thedata are complete; and acquiring the data from the memory of one of theother MNDs via the third link when the data are not complete.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the MND is selected from the group consistingof a smart phone, a portable computer, a desktop computer, and agateway.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the network service provideris selected from the group consisting of a DOCSIS service provider, anADSL service provider, a fiber service provider, a WiMAX serviceprovider, a UMTS/HSDPA service provider, a CDMA/EV-DO service provider,and an EDGE service provider.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein thefirst link, the second link and the third link are selected from thegroup consisting of a wired link and a wireless link.
 10. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the data are video data.
 11. A system for receivingvideo data streams over multiple links comprising: a first multi-networkdevice (MND), wherein the first MND comprises a processor and a firstmemory and wherein the MND is configured to establish a connection witha network service provider via a first link; an ad-hoc network of otherMNDs, wherein each of the other MNDs comprises a memory and isconfigured to establish an ad-hoc connection to the MND via a secondlink and to establish a connection with the network service provider viaa third link, wherein the network service provider provides lowresolution video data streams generated by: mapping pixels of a videoimage into blocks of M rows and N columns, wherein each block comprisesM times N cells, and wherein each cell is uniquely located by a row andcolumn number; and grouping the cells of the blocks having the same rowand column number into one of M times N video streams having a streamidentifier, wherein the MND receives one of the M times N video streamsfrom the network service provider via the first link and stores the datain the first memory, wherein each of the other MNDs receives one of theM times N video streams from the network service provider via the thirdlink and stores the data in its memory, and wherein the processorcomprises instructions that cause the MND to perform operationscomprising: monitoring the video data stream received via the firstlink; determining whether the received video data stream is complete;and acquiring one of the M times N video data streams from the memory ofone of the other MNDs via the second link when the received video datastream is not complete.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the MNDcomprises a low resolution display and wherein the processor furthercomprises instructions that cause the MND to perform the operation ofdisplaying one of the M times N video streams on the low resolutiondisplay.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the MND comprises a highresolution display, wherein the MND receives a first video stream andthe other MNDs receive the remaining video streams and wherein theprocessor further comprises instructions that cause the MND to performoperations comprising: receiving the remaining M times N video streamsfrom the other MNDs via the third link; combining the first video streamand the remaining video streams to form a high resolution image; anddisplaying the high resolution image on the high resolution display. 14.The system of claim 11, wherein the MND is selected from the groupconsisting of a smart phone, a portable computer, a desktop computer,and a gateway.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the network serviceprovider is selected from the group consisting of a DOCSIS serviceprovider, an ADSL service provider, a fiber service provider, a WiMAXservice provider, a UMTS/HSDPA service provider, a CDMA/EV-DO serviceprovider, and an EDGE service provider.
 16. The system of claim 11,wherein the first link, the second link and the third link are selectedfrom the group consisting of a wired link and a wireless link.
 17. Amethod for receiving video data over multiple links comprising: mappingpixels of a video image into blocks of M rows and N columns, whereineach block comprises M times N cells, and wherein each cell is uniquelylocated by a row and column number; grouping the cells of the blockshaving the same row and column number into one of M times N videostreams having a stream identifier; establishing a first link between afirst multi-network device (MND), wherein the first MND comprises aprocessor and a first memory; receiving at the first MND one of the Mtimes N video streams from the network service provider via the firstlink; storing the data in the first memory from the network serviceprovider via the first link; establishing a connection with the networkservice provider and each of the other MNDs via a second link, whereineach of the other MNDs comprises a processor and a memory; receiving oneof the M times N video streams from the network service provider via thesecond link; storing the data in the memories of each of the other MNDs;establishing an ad-hoc network of the other MNDs; establishing an ad hocconnection between each of the other MNDs and the first MND via a thirdlink; monitoring the video data stream received via the first link;determining whether the received video data stream is complete; andacquiring one of the M times N video data streams from the memory of oneof the other MNDs via the third link when the received video data streamis not complete.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the MND comprises alow resolution display and wherein the method further comprisesdisplaying one of the M times N video streams on the low resolutiondisplay.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the MND comprises a highresolution display, and wherein the method further comprises: receivinga first video stream at the MND; receiving the remaining video streamsat the other MNDs; receiving the remaining M times N video streams fromthe other MNDs via the third link; combining the first video stream andthe remaining video streams to form a high resolution image; anddisplaying the high resolution image on the high resolution display. 20.The method of claim 17, wherein the MND is selected from the groupconsisting of a smart phone, a portable computer, a desktop computer,and a gateway.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the network serviceprovider is selected from the group consisting of a DOCSIS serviceprovider, an ADSL service provider, a fiber service provider, a WiMAXservice provider, a UMTS/HSDPA service provider, a CDMA/EV-DO serviceprovider, and an EDGE service provider.
 22. The method of claim 17,wherein the first link, the second link and the third link are selectedfrom the group consisting of a wired link and a wireless link.